Lok Sabha polls: NCP's Suresh Dhas to contest against Gopinath Munde

Mumbai: NCP on Monday announced the name of Suresh Dhas, Minister of State for Revenue, to contest the Beed Parliamentary constituency against senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Nationalist Congress Party president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and senior leaders at the party office.

The party is yet to announce candidates for Maval, Hatkanangale and Hingoli seats.

Party sources said the decision on Hatkanangale was pending because the NCP was persuading minister Jayant Patil to contest against Raju Shetti, who has now tied-up with the Sena-BJP alliance.

Hingoli may be swapped with Congress for Raigad seat. NCP is likely field Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare from Raigad if it gets the seat, sources said.

Party workers are of the view that if the NCP parts with Hingoli, it might lose base in Marathwada. However, it is up to the leaders to decide, sources said.

Congress has not been able to wrest the seat from Shiv Sena which was once a bastion of Congress and former chief minister A R Antulay. NCP is also yet to declare candidate for Maval. The Congress is likely to declare its first list after March 13.